Vending-machine.



W. G. ElVIPLETON.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATmN FILED No.1. 1911.

Patented Feb. 11, m19.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. G. TEMPLETON.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPucATmN msn 'n.ac. x. 1911.

.Patented Feb. 11, HB9.

3 SHEETS-SHEE 2.

@mi ilu con w. G. TEMPLETON.

VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION man ofc. i. 1917.

Patented Feb. 1l, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NN MW .kw kh. Nw,

w, momumo., wAmmcmN. v. s.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

Application filed December 1, 1917. Serial No. 204,850.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I. WILLIAM G. TEMPLE- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El Paso and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Vending-Machine, (Case 13,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vending machines, one of its objects being to provide a machine designed to vend materi-al in sheet form from a roll'or the like, means being provided whereby a selected length of material can be directed out of the machine without requiring any accurate adjustment of the selectin and actuating means.

A further o ject is to provide actuating means which, when moved in one direction, will set the machine for dispensing any selected length of material and, when shifted in the opposite direction, will project the selected amount from the machine.

A still further object is to provide delivery mechanism which will hold the sheet material smooth and flat and which is pro vided with means for engaging said material to cause it to move with the delivery mechanism while the sheet material is being dispensed or vended. A`A still further object is to provide simple and eiiicient means for holding the material against movement with the feeding mechanism while said mechanism is being set to select -a predetermined length of material.

Another object is to provide feeding mechanism which is simple and efficient, formed of but few parts and will not readily get out of order.

A still further object is to provide severing means under the control 0f the delivery mechanism whereby, immediately upon the completion of the delivery of a selected` length of material, said length can be severed.

Another object is to provide severing means normally locked against movement but which is adapted to be automatically unlocked upon the completion of the delivering or dispensing operation.

A still further obj ect is to provide a vending machine particularly u seful in vending stamps either in strip or in sheet form, it

. vbeing possible to feed the stamps-from the machine one or more units'at a time, each unit including one stamp or a row of stamps, according to the width of .the strip or sheet of stamps contained in the machine.

Heretofore, when it has been necessary to purchase stamps in quantities, considerable time and care has been necessary in order to count out the required number of stamps and a certain amount of bookkeeping has been required in order to keep a record of the amount of sales. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine which can, at one operation, deliver one or more units of stamps, each unit eX- tending throughout the width of the strip or sheet of stamps with which the machine is supplied, there being a register for totaling the number of units dispensed.

A still further object is to provide the machine with interchangeable scales for use in connection with the selective mechanism so that the machine can |be readily adapted for dispensing stamps of different denominations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in .the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes `in the 4precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure l is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough.'

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, a portion of the shearing blade being removed.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the register being shown in elevation.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged ver-tical longitudinal section through a portion of the delivering mechanism and showing the feeding and restraining' fingers in engagement with a sheet of stamps.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation of the means employed for unlocking the shearing mechanism upon the completion of the feeding or dispensing operation.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a fiat base the upper surface of which is polished so as to present a smooth surface. Upstanding fromi the sides of the base near one end are side plates 2 and 3 in which is journaled a shaft 4; to which a drum 5 is secured. A register, which has been indicated generally at 6, is mounted on one of the side plates and is coupled to andadapted vto be actuated by the shaft f1', this -register being provided for the purpose hereinafter pointed out.

An arm 7 is secured to and extends vradially from one end 'of the drum 5 and is provided with an-index or pointer 8 which laps and is adapted to work along the outer face of the side wall 2. -A handle 9 of any desired form is extended from the arm 7 and projecting downwardly from the arm isa deflecting lu'g 10.

Stamped or otherwise indicated on the outer side of the plate 2 and close to the upper edge thereof, which edge is concentric with the shaft 4, is a series of numerals ranging from zero to ten `and which are spaced apart regular distances, as shown particularly in Fig. 1. These `numerals designate units'of material Ito bedispensed or vended and, if desired, a plate 11 may be secured to the side `plate 2 close to the'series of numerals, this plate bearing figures indicating the price to be paid for each unit. For example, in the structure illustrated, the price of each unit is 'tencents and, consequently, there is arranged adjacent each of the unit indicating numerals, numerals on the plate 11 indicating values ranging from ten'cents for one unit to one dollar for ten units. There the price per -unit is to be changed the'plate 11 can be detached and a new plate substituted therefor on which the new prices appear.

For the purpose of audibly indicating when the index or pointer 8 passes each of the unit designating numerals, notches 12 are formed in the arcuate or upper 'edge of the side wall 3 and which edge is concentric with the'shaft 4. These notches 12 are arranged direct-ly opposite the unit indicating numerals and secured "to the drum 5 is a spring 4finger 13 which `rides 'over this notched edge.' Consequently'each time the indexoripointer 8 reaches one of the funit indicating numerals 'on the plate 2, the linger 13 willclick into oneof the notches 12. Thus it will be vapparent that the machine can be operated yto 'Vend a desired number of units whether 'or vnot there is sufficient light to disclose the characters on the plate 2.

Bearing AInembers 14 are extended upwardly from the sides of the base 1 at the back end thereof and have slots 15 extending downwardly thereinto from their upper ends. These slots are adapted to receive the trunnions 16 of a roll 17 on which the material to be ve'nded is adapted `to be Wound. As the trunnions 16 can work freely upwardlyand downwardly in the slot 15, it will be obvious that the material on the roll will rest at all times upon the base 1.

Additional bearings 18 are extended upwardly from the sides of the base 1 between the side plates 2 and 3 and the bearings 14 and journaled within these bearing members 18 is a transverse shaft 19 carrying a grooved wheel 20. A band 21 which can be made of a steel tape or the like is mounted on the grooved wheelV 20 and extends around the drum 5, the ends of the band being connected together preferably b y `vaV coiled spring 22. That portion of the band 21 resting onthe fcenter' of the top of the drum 5 when said drum is in its normal position as shown in Fig. 3, is fastened to the drum by rivets23or the-like. That portion of the band extending under the-drum when the drum tis in yits normal .position is riveted or otherwise fastened to a lblock -24 extending upwardly from and secured Tto va Vfeed plate 25 which extendsthroughout the width of the base 1 and works between side flanges 26 extending upwardly from the ybase 1. A knob 27 or the like "is 'carried by the back portion ofthe feed plate 25 "and constitutes a handle whereby said plate can be Alifted readily off of the'loase =1.

When the plate 25 is in its normal or forward position, the front edge thereof is flush 'with the corresponding end ofthe base plate 1. Said end of the feed plate fhas slots 28 lextending thereinto from its front end and located 'at any desired ldistances apart', the length'of `these slots being lequal to the length of one unit as indicated by the numerals on the side "plate 2. A transverse series of apertures 29 Vis formed in the plate-25 and in line with the inner ends of the slots 28.

A cross bar 30 is secured betweentherside plates 2- and 3 close 'to and fabove fthe upstanding side fianges `3'1of the feed plate 25 and ,pivotally `mounted within'the bar 30 are restraining fingers 32 ythe free ends `of which are offset downwardly and terminate in points as shown at 33, these points being so located as to yextend through the slots 28 and engage :the material to be vended and which is located between the plate 25 and the ibase 1 'asat S.

Secured upon the 'feed'plate25 is a cross bar34 in 'which are pivotallymounted feed fingers 35 which extend vforwardly lfrom the bar andhave'their :free ends'oifsetdownwardly and pointed, as at 36, 4these pointed ends being `adapted to extend into the apertures 29 and engage the material to be vended.

Arranged along the front end of the base 1 is a stationary shearing blade 37 and located at one side of the base 1 are bearings 38 and 39 in which is journaled a shaft 40. To the front end of this shaft is secured a movable shearing blade 41 adapted to cooperate with the blade 37 to sever material projected over and beyond said blade 37. It will be noted that the upper edge of the blade 37 is flush or substantially ush with the surface of the base 1.

Secured to the rear end of the shaft 40 is an actuating lever 42 which extends transversely across the machine close to and beyond the side plate 2 and under the arm 7. This handle is held normally elevated by a coiled spring 43 orany other suitable device provided therefor, it being apparent that' when the handle 42 is elevatedV the shearing blade 41 is also elevated. The free end portion of the handle 42 is adapted to work within a slot 44 extending downwardly into the rear portion of the side plate 2 and a locking dog 45 is pivotally connected to the side plate close to and below the slot 44 and has a spring 46 or the like for holding it normally pressed against one side of the handle 42. This dog is provided with a `shoulder 47 adapted to extend under thel handle 42 and thus prevent the handle from being pushed downwardly. The upper end of the dog is beveled, as shown at 48 and is located under and in the path of the deflecting lug 10 on the handle 7. When the handle 7 is at its lowermost or normal position at the back of the plate 2 with the index or pointer 8 extending to the 0 character, the lug 10 engages the beveled end 48 of the dog to hold the dog pressed against the spring 46 and with its shoulder 47 withdrawn from under the handle 42. Consequently the handle can be pushed downwardly so as to actuate the movable blade 41 and cause material to be severed. As soon as the arm 7 is moved away from its normal or rearmost position,

' the spring 43 will return the handle 42 to its elevated position and the spring 46 will return the dog 45 to locking position so that the handle 42 cannot be lowered` and the blade 41 cannot operate.

It is to be understood that the machine herein described can be used for vending various articles. It is primarily designed, however, for vending postage stamps which are arranged in strip form wound upon the roll 17. These posta-ge stamps can be arranged one or more in a row and in a large machine, such as has been illustrated, the strip of stamps may be made up of rows of ten. Slots 28 are to be approximately of the same length as a stamp and each unit of stamps to be fed4 from the machine will consist of one row of stamps which, in a large machine, can be made up of ten stamps and, in a small machine, can consist of a single stamp. When it is desired to set the machine for use, a roll of stamps is placed between the bearing members 14 and the unrolled end of the strip of stamps is fed over the base 1 and under the feed plate 25. By moving this feed plate rearwardly, this being accomplished by rotating the drum 5 to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, the plate can be lifted by means of knob or handle 27, thus to permit the ready insertion of the end of the strip of stamps until said end is flush with the front or slotted end of the plate 25. When the stamp strip is thus in position, the pointed ends 36 of the lingers 35 will gravitate into the first transverse row of perforations dividing the first strip or unit from the second unit. Consequently when the arm 7 is swung to the left, in Fig. 1, so as to bring the pointer or index 8to the graduation 07 the plate 25 will be fed longitudinally forwardly upon the base 1, drawing the strip of stamps therewith and causing the roll gradually to unwind, this unwinding being retarded by reason of the fact that the roll rests upon the base 1. As the feed plate 25 approaches its front position, the front unit of stamps will be moved under the lingers 32 and, when the plate 25 and the strip of stamps have ceased their forward movement with the end of the strip of stamps flush with the plate 25 and with the cutting edge of the blade 37, certain of the fingers 32 will project into some of the perforations in the strip of stamps, thus preventing said strip from pulling rearwardly out of the position to which it has been fed.

Assuming now that it is desired to vend one unit which, as before stated, can be made up of one or more stamps, the arm 6 is swung to the right, in Fig. 1, till it comes to graduation 1. This will cause the. feed plate 25 to move rearwardly and to slide upon the strip of stamps thereunder, said strip being held against backward movement by the pointed fingers 32. The parts are so proportioned that when the graduation 1 has been reached by the index or pointer 8, the points 36 of the fingers 35 will ave reached and gravitated into certain of the transverse series of perforations dividing the second and third units of stamps. If, by chance, the index or pointer 8 should have been moved past the graduation l, the pointed ends 36 would have likewise moved onto the stamps of the third unit. However, when the plate 25 is moved4 forwardly by bringing the arm-7 back to its initial position, the points 36 of the fingers 35, which are arranged to travel between the longitudinal rows of perforations in the sheet of stamps, will -ride along or Aslide over the stamps -of the third unit until they `come into the perforations dividing the stamps of third and second units. They will `then immediately pick up lthe strip of stamps and feed it forwardly luntil one unit has been caused to Iproject beyond the frontend of the base l. As long as the arm 7 is out of its normal position,during 'the feeding of the stamp strips, i't-becomes impossible -to operate the shearingmechanism and, therefore, injury'to stamps due to the accidental actuation ofthe shearing mechanism, is prevent ed. However, Ias soon as the strip-of stamps is fed forwardly the actuating arm 7 is brought to its normal position, and the delecting lug l0 shifts the dog 45 out fof enoagem'ent vwith the handle 42. Consequently the same hand lwhich is used in shifting the arm backf'toits :normal position can, yin one motion, release the knob 9 and engage the end Voflthe handle L2 so as to push'said `handle-downwardly and cause the movable blade 4l -to Vdescend and sever the projecting portion of fthe stamps. It Will be found that this projecting lportion vWill consist'of one unit lor ro-W of stamps. If desired tvvoor more =units can Vbe vended in this manner. For'eXamp'lebyshiftin-g the arm 7 to bring the ypointer orlindeX 8 tothe graduation 5 the slide 25 Willbe moved rearwardly over the held strip of stamps until the iingers 35 have passed/over live units ofstamps onlthe held strip. By then reversing the movement of the handle 7 so as t0 bring the index or pointer v'back yto its normal position, as shown in yFig. 1,5the strip of stamps will lbe fed forwardly and five units of stamps Will be projected `beyond fthe front edge of the base l. As soon as thearm 7 has been brought to its xnormal position the handle 42 -is released and can be pushed `downwardly lto sever the projecting portion of the stamp strip.

The register is to be so arranged as to total the numberlof units dispensed so that, attheend ofthe days work, an accurate rec- 0rd willfbe had of the number of stamps sold.

yThe machine herein described is advantageous because it=becomes possibleto quickly and vaccurately vend stamps and the like in predetermined quantities, thus saving time heretofore necessary in `order to count out large numbers ofstamps and also avoiding the danger of error which has been present when counting has been necessary. The rapidity 'with which `a large number Iof stampsfcanbe vended will be apparent from the fact that Where a strip havinglten stamps toa row* or :unit is used, onefmovement 'of-the arm 7 from'the VeXtreme left position tothe eXtreme 'fright and thence back to' its normal position will resultiin the 'accurate vending of 100 stamps and leach repetition of this movement vWill vend 100 `additional stamps.'

As before stated While the machine isnprimarily :designed as afstamp vending machine it can be yused for vending other .articles Without necessitating `any materialchan-gesA in the construction.

It is preferred -to have laterallyexitendin pins 49 upon the side flanges y31 .of the 'feed plate 25 adjacent the front end thereof-fand which ypins are adapted to travelE along fthe upper edges ofitheiside flanges 4QGof the ibase l, Jthusvto support the `frontipertion fef ithe plate 25 out of contact with the-fsheetimaterial thereunder. These pins lmove'against stop shoulders 50 :formed on lthe@flamges 26 and are adapted to ldrop finto Arecesses 51' formed in said flanges, 'thus tofcausethe front portion of Ithe plate 25 Vito lower fand bear upon the sheet 'material thereunder so that 4said material `Will be heldziirnrly. vHowever, Vwhen .the plate 25 is moved rearwardly' during the resetting operation, .the pins-149 Wil-l ride out 'ofthe recesses-51 'and :onto the upper edges fof the langes'26, iso that the drag upon the sheet material underfthe-.plate 25 Will 'be `reduced to 'the fminimufm.

VVhat is claimed is z* l yl. A vending machine including a-lbase, a feeding Emember forholding'sheet material fiat upon the basefmeans carried byi-'said member ffor engagingthe sheet material :and

sheet material flat uponfthe base, fmeans' for t reciprocating -said member, means `movable with theQfeeding-member in one direction for sliding over the -sheet material fand, in the opposite-direction toshift-the sheet material along the base and past the holding means, and fixed means and movable indicating means cooperating to indicate When a selectedV quantity of sheetv material'has been engaged by the feeding member.

3. In a vending machine a base,;a" feeding plate for holding sheet vmaterial fiat upon the base,coperating means upon--saidplate and base for holding one end portion ofthe plate in aslightly elevated position, means supported above thebase for engaging sheet material to hold it against movement in one direction, means carried by the feeding plate for sliding over sheet material during the movement of the feeding plate in one direction and for engaging and moving the sheet material over the base during the movement of the feeding plate in the opposite direction, means for actuating the feeding plate to select and vend predetermined lengths of sheet material, and means for depositing the elevated end portion of the feeding plate upon the sheet material upon the completion of each feeding movement of said plate.

a. In a vending machine a base, a member mounted for rotation thereabove, a feeding plate slidably mounted betvveen said member and upon the lbase for holding sheet material flat upon the base, a guide Wheel supported above the base, a flexible member secured to and reciprocable by means of the revoluble member and mounted upon the guide Wheel, said flexible member being secured to the feeding plate, means for holding the sheet material against movement in one direction upon the base, means carried by the feeding member for moving the sheet material'in the opposite direction upon the base, and means for actuating the revoluble member to slide the feeding plate and select and dispense a predetermined length of sheet material.

5. In a vending machine a base, means thereon for holding sheet material against movement in one direction upon the base, a feeding plate for holding the sheet material flat upon the base, means carried thereby for engaging sheet material When the plate is moved in one direction to feed said material beyond the base, means for severing the sheet material projecting beyond the base, a lock for holding the severing means against movement, and means for unlocking the severing means upon the completion of each delivering movement of the feeding plate.

6. In a vending machine the combination withV a base, of a drum mounted for rotation thereabove, a guide Wheel, a band secured to the drum and mounted upon the guide Wheel, a feeding plate loosely mounted on the base for holding sheet material flat thereon, said plate being connected to and adapted to be actuated by the band, means movable with the feeding plate for engaging sheet material thereunder to feed said material in one direction With the feeding plate, means for holding the sheet material against movement during the movement of the plate in the opposite direction thereover, an arm for rotating the drum, an index movable therewith, and means coperating With the index for indicating amounts of material selected by the feeding plate when the arm is moved in one direction and adapted to be vended when the arm is moved in the opposite direction.

7. In a vending machine the combination with a base, of a feeding plate loosely mounted thereon for holding the sheet material flat upon the base, of a drum above the base, a band secured to and actuated by the drum and attached to the feeding plate, a guide wheel engaged by the band, means above the base for engaging sheet material to hold it against movement during the movement of the feeding plate in one direction thereover, means movable With the feeding plate for engaging sheet material to dispense it When the feeding plate is moved in the opposite direction, said feed plate being liftable relative to the base for the insertion of sheet material thereunder, and means for imparting a back and forth rotation to the drum to reciprocate the feeding plate.

8. In a vending machine the combination With a base and severing means at one end of the base, of a feeding plate for holding sheet material fiat upon the base, and means for reciprocating said plate to select a predetermined length of material and feed it alon thc base to the severing means.

9. gIn a vending machine the combination With a base and severing means at one end of the base, of a feeding plate for holding sheet material fiat upon the base, means for reciprocating said plate to select a* predetermined length of material and feed it along the base to the severing means, said plate being lift-able relative to the base to admit insertion of sheet material thereunder.

l0. In a vending machine the combination with a base and severing means at one end of the base, of a feeding plate for holding sheet material dat upon the base, means for reciprocating said plate to select a predetermined length of material and feed it along the base to the severing means, coperating means upon the base and the feeding plate for holding one end of the feeding plate slightly raised from the sheet material, and means for depositing said elevated end of the feeding plate upon the sheet material upon the completion of each feeding movement of the late.

p 11. In a vending machine the combination With a base and severing mechanism at one end of the base, of a feeding plate, means for reciprocating said plate for selecting a predetermined length of Sheet material and to feed the selected length to the severing means, means for holding one end portion of the feeding plate slightly elevated during the reciprocation thereof and to deposit said elevated end upon the sheet-material close to the severing means upon the completion of each feeding operation.

12. In a vending machine the combination withla base for supporting sheet material, of a feeding member thereabove, means for engaging said material to holcl it against movement in one direction relative tothe base, means movable With the feeding member for sliding in onedireetion over the sheet materialr and,` when moved in theopposite direction, for engaging the sheet material and 10 sliding it relative. to the base, and selective means for actuating the. feedingI member to slide. overVv aI a predetermined length of sheet material and to. vendthe selectedN amount.

In testimony that I elaimthe foregoing as my oWnI have hereto affixed my signature 15 (hapless of this patent maybe obtained for ve cents each-by addressing;the, Commissioner ofePatents. Washington, ILUG??r 

